TOTAL RESIDENCY: HOW MUCH FEST CAN YOU TAKE?

As you may have already guessed, we love cramming as much musical mayhem into a single, chaotic weekend as possible. However, Total Fest XI--a many headed beast of rocking ambition--decided to up the ante just a bit this year. Instead of relegating ourselves to the traditional Thursday, Friday, Saturday onslaught, we've expanded the fest by four--yes, FOUR--nights. To the initiated Missoulian, this could only mean one thing: The August residency at the VFW is being curated by Total Fest this year!

It's always been a lamentable shame that we can't quite fit every band we'd like to onto the fest, so the quick remedy has been to take the four non-festival Thursdays in August and showcase some of our other favorite local (and non-local) bands. The best part is, no pass necessary for these jammers. Each event is a stand-alone happening of rockin' majesty, for only three American™ dollars a pop. Here they are:

VOL 1, AUGUST 2nd: AMERICAN FALCON / NO ONE and the SOMEBODIES / CAVE CRICKET / MODALITY.
All of these will be eclectic bills--but this one is especially exceptional in that regard; ranging from the soft, dark folk of Cave Cricket to the muscle car pump of American Falcon; the clattering, sturm and drang of the Bronx bred No One and the Somebodies to the hypnotic pulsing of Modality. It's not just something for everyone, it's unique contrasts culminating for an exciting night of live music. This show is also a t-shirt drop off for the Total Cave installation (all old band shirts welcome!) Doors at 9:30.

Listen to AMERICAN FALCON
Listen to NO ONE and the SOMEBODIES
Listen to CAVE CRICKET
Listen to MODALITY

VOL 2, AUGUST 9th: VELCRO KICKS / SHOTGUN HODOWN / PETUNIA
Velcro Kicks have been "kicking" (agh, puns!) their brand of lo-fi scum-pop around Missoula for years, and I for one, am eternally grateful for it. Occasionally mashing a familiar surfy wash into dark, chromatic punk, giving the whole sound a claustrophobic--but equally exciting tension. Shotgun Hodown is a travelin' band from Grand Junction, Colorado, passing through our little mountain gem as an acoustic duo for this set. Their songs recall the Ennio Morricone influenced sounds of Giant Sand/Calexico with a dastardly dash of Tom Waits thrown in for good measure. Opening the night will be Petunia, whom do that hollerin' Springsteen influenced Punk (with a capital 'P,' natch) better than just about anyone around these parts--a heightened attention to song craft and scrappy charm sets them apart. Also, Brandon is the cutest guy in town ;) This show is also a t-shirt drop off for the Total Cave installation (all old band shirts welcome!) Doors at 10.

Listen to VELCRO KICKS
Listen to SHOTGUN HODOWN
Read about PETUNIA!

VOL 3, AUGUST 23rd: I HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND / JAMES RABBIT / CAT HEAVEN
If you were growing up in the 90s and were cool, there's a pretty good chance that I Hate Your Girlfriend reminds you of all the music you loved when you were angsty enough to etch "Nirvana" into everything in sight. What makes them special is that they don't sound like a nostalgic retread of grunge as a genre, but more an updated love letter. Plenty of punk snarl tempered with an ear toward melody and cynical humor. James Rabbit is basically the definition of west-coast art-pop. Eclectic, vibrant, sunshine. One Hundred and Ten Percent. All the way, baby. Sometimes I get an Elephant 6 influence, others, something I can't quite put my finger on. Starting the night off is the inimitable Cat Heaven. Rumor has it that this will be their "last show," as scene-teen-dreamer, Tyson Ballew will be moving at the end of the summer. That alone makes this a can't-miss event. Doors at 10.

Listen to I HATE YOUR GIRLFRIEND
Listen to JAMES RABBIT
Listen and Read about CAT HEAVEN!

VOL 4, AUGUST 30th: BOYS / SPIRIT HOLE / BUDDY JACKSON / GERM HUNK
Webster's dictionary defines the word "blowout" as: HOLY SHIT THIS IS GOING TO BE TOTALLY F-ING BONKS, BRO. Boys and Spirit Hole have both done their fair share of face-melting around these parts since January, and you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't agree that they're firmly indoctrinated in the current Missoula rock-renaissance we've been experiencing lately. Buddy Jackson makes me feel warm and giggly in the best way possible: unapologetic, gleeful, punk rock. The mysterious Germ Hunk is the brain child of the prolific Riley Wave. To my knowledge, this will be his premier live performance under the Germ Hunk moniker--a project that would sound right at home with one of the weirder John Dwyer projects. To compound all of this intense action, it's also the first week school is back in session: WUT. Tell your friends. Doors at 9.

Listen to BOYS
Listen to BUDDY JACKSON
Listen to GERM HUNK